The shofar is our ancient, animalistic alarm clock. Hearing it tells us to wake up and it's a mitzvah, a commandment to hear its call. We say the first blessing before the shofar is sounded, then we say shehecheyanu, the blessing for milestones, to mark the occasion.
 

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu lishmoa kol shofar.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has made us holy with commandments, and who has commanded us to hear the voice of the shofar.

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam shehecheyanu v’kiyimanu v’higiyanu lazman ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.

As Jews in diaspora, we can struggle to find a connection to our homeland. But just like a tortoise in the desert, we take our home with us.

INSPIRATION

The inspiration for this practice comes from my intersectional roots as both Japanese and Jewish. My Japanese mother had a practice where we weren’t allowed to wear new shoes outside of the house without putting ashes on the soles. The ashes were from incense burned to honor our ancestors. As we walked out into the world, we brought our ancestors with us, and were indelibly connected to them.

INTENTION

This is a ritual for CONNECTION and RETURN to one’s roots, as well as a reminder that as much as it is there to protect us, we also have an obligation to be STEWARDS to our homeland - including and especially while in diaspora.

TIME FRAME

This ritual BEGINS at the start of Rosh Hashanah and ENDS at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.

THE RITUAL

TEXT IN RED should be said by the lead practitioner who is sharing this ritual with others, or if sole practitioner, said to themselves.

TEXT IN BLUE should be said by all, in unison.

BEGINNINGS

1)

• If this is the first time you are engaging in this practice, you will need to collect soil/sand/earth from WHERE YOU ARE. It should be from the place you currently call HOME.
• If you have performed this ritual in years past, you will start by taking your container of earth from previous years.

*** This is your soil, brought forth by you, representing where you are today as your practice begins, and where your practice has led you. I

f you are returning, bring forth your soil which you have safeguarded on your journeys.***

2) 

In the entranceway to your home, spill out your soil to create approximately one square foot of space, in any shape or form.

• Let the soil spill through your fingers. Inhale the essential scents of earthiness, minerality, or fragility as you connect with the land. 
• You may engage with this practice alone or with others. All who connect with the land of ISRAEL may help build this square foot of soil.

*** This is your soil in your home. It is yours to celebrate and connect with.***

3)

Write ISRAEL in the soil in your native language.

*** This square foot of earth IS your piece of Israel. It is your homeland. Your connection to it is ABSOLUTE through the fact of being Jewish. Your physical presence in diaspora, appearance or racial presentation, or blood quantum have no bearing on your legitimacy as a Jew with a connection to the land of Israel. Being Jewish is enough. YOU are enough.***

In your mother language, honoring the land, we say in unison:

“This is my land. This is my home. This is my Israel.”

EN/DURING

1)

Prepare with spiritual vigilance.

***At the end of each day, you will find your home soil WILL have been disturbed. Do not be shocked or surprised. Without vigilance, the forces of entropy will lay siege upon your earth. Wind may disturb it. An accidental footstep may disturb it. Those who are offended by the concept or word ISRAEL may intentionally attempt to erase ISRAEL from your soil, your home, and your heart. This is to be expected.***

2)

Restore.

***We will rebuild.***

At sunset each night, reinforce the edges where your earth has been disturbed. Retrace and rewrite the name of ISRAEL. Renew and replenish the earth as needed. You are the guardian and steward of this one square foot of ISRAEL. It is your responsibility to safeguard this small piece of soil that connects you to your homeland.

***We do not pretend to be surprised that there are those that would erase the name of Israel from the earth. But we do not shy away from our obligation to rebuild and restore it.***

Upon restoration, we say in unison:

“This is my land. This is my home. This is my Israel.”

RESOLUTION

1)

On the final night, at the end of Yom Kippur, you will reinforce your square foot of land, retrace the name of ISRAEL, and say in unison:

“This is my land. This is my home. This is my Israel.”

2) 

***Safeguard this land and take ISRAEL with you.***

Upon restoration, gather the soil in your hands and pour it into a container to safeguard until the next Rosh Hashanah.

***Your soil can also be shared with others to bring with them through diaspora. Children can seed their containers from the soil of the parents. Newcomers to the practice can start their tradition through connection with your earth. Go forth as stewards, with ISRAEL in your heart.***

Ritual by Stephen Nolly

As we enter a New Year without our loved one, our memories of them and the experiences we shared with them may begin to feel further away. This activity invites us into presence with our memories and creates a physical keepsake we can revisit. You may want to begin collecting memories during Rosh Hashanah, and continue adding to the jar throughout the year. 

To start, place a large jar, decorated box or vessel in a convenient location. Next, whenever you have a memory of your loved one, write it down on a slip of paper and place it in the jar. If a memory crosses your mind and you don’t have access to paper, record a voice memo or type it into your phone so you can transfer it to paper later. Your memories can be simple, such as a holiday tradition, your loved one’s favorite food, or of an adventure or experience you shared. 

Any time you wish to recall their lives, take a note from the jar. You can also revisit memories at the start of another New Year, when you say Yizkor or Kaddish, each time you visit their grave, or mark their birthday or yahrzeit. You can create a scrapbook with photos that correspond to the memories. You can read the notes together with other family members or friends and then share the story of the memory together. Or, invite several people to share stories at your Rosh Hashanah seder, Yom Kippur break fast or Sukkot gathering. 

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This ritual was adapted by Chloe Nassau, based on a creation from the Center for Loss & Renewal, Rabbi Benyamin Cirlin, LCSW